Loyalists
American colonists who remained loyal to Britain and opposed the war for independence
preferred to pay taxes and honor Parliament and the king- they feared that the resistance would lead to a war that Britain seemed certain to win
Declarations of Independence
drafted in 1776 and announced America was no longer a British colony
mostly written by Thomas Jefferson and with help from Adams and Franklin
captured the ideals of the revolution, inspiring the struggle, and how it laid the groundwork for the creation of the United States Constitution
Federalists
A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.
Anti-federalists
Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption.
thought it gave the national government far too much power at the expense of the states.
they believed that the President had too much power, that Congress was too small and could not represent voters, and that a federal court system interfered with local courts
believed that liberty could not survive unless the federal government remained weak, with most power belonging to state governments.
Constitution
A document which spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society
Bill of rights
First 10 amendments to the Constitution
a list of freedoms guaranteed by the state government
protected individual liberty
War of 1812
A war (1812-1814) between the United States and England was trying to interfere with American trade with France.
US ordered an embargo or a banning of trade with a country, on British goods, but it hurt the US more than it hurt Britain. so the US lifted the embargo
ended 2 1/2 years later by a peace treaty
proved the stability of the country's republican form of government and power
Monroe Doctrine
A statement of foreign policy which proclaimed that Europe should not interfere in affairs within the United States or in the development of other countries in the Western Hemisphere.
in turn, the US promised to stay out of European affairs
Manifest Destiny
A notion held by a nineteenth-century Americans that the United States was destined to rule the continent, from the Atlantic the Pacific.
Civil War strategies
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Supreme Court case that decided that slaves would remain slaves in non-slave states and slaves could not sue because they were not citizens
Dred Scott's lawyers thought he should be free because he had lived with his master in the free state of Illinois
Northerners thought it was alarming, while Southerners were delighted
end
Some abolitionists thought such an unfair decision would bring the crisis to a head more quickly, hastening the ___ of slavery
Reconstruction Amendments
13th: abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude 14th: secured the rights of former slaves after reconstruction, 15th: prohibits each government in the United States to prevent a citizen from voting based on their race
Jim Crow Laws
Laws designed to enforce segregation of blacks from whites
limited rights of blacks
Freedmen's Bureau
A federal agency set up to help former slaves after the Civil War Provided:
provide food- medical care- administer justice- manage abandoned and confiscated property- regulate labor- establish schools- reunion of families
Mayflower Compact
1620 - The first agreement for self-government in America. It was signed by the 41 men on the Mayflower and set up a government for the Plymouth colony.
provided a framework for self-government
House of Burgesses
1619 - The Virginia House of Burgesses formed, the first legislative body in colonial America. Later other colonies would adopt houses of burgesses.
governed the colony in partnership with a royal governor appointed by the king of England
Magna Carta
(1215) a charter of liberties (freedoms) that King John "Lackland" of England was forced to sign
it made the king obey the same laws as the citizens of his kingdom and limited the power of the English Monarch
It protected the right of people to own private property and guaranteed the right to trial by jury
English Bill of Rights
King William and Queen Mary accepted this document in 1689.
It guaranteed certain rights to English citizens and declared that elections for Parliament would happen frequently.
By accepting this document, they supported a limited monarchy, a system in which they shared their power with Parliament and the people.
Enlightenment
a movement that emphasized science and reason as guides to help see the world more clearly
that all problems could be solved by human reason
John Locke
English philosopher who believed that people had NATURAL rights that came from God, not from monarchs
Great Awakening
RELIGIOUS revival in the American colonies of the eighteenth century during which a number of new Protestant churches were established.
Causes of the American Revolution
Taxation2. Revocation of Royal Charters3. Enforcement of Navigation Acts4. British Demands for Colonists to pay for cost of French and Indian War.5. Oppression by King6. Interference of Parliament in Colonial Affairs.7. No Representation in Parliament.
pressure
Valuing the prosperity and protection of the empire, the colonists did not immediately seek independence But to ______ Parliament, colonists boycotted British goods, which threatened British economy, but some loyalists refused
George Washington
1st President of the United States, commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution (1732-1799)
Treaty of Paris
agreement signed by British and American leaders that stated the United States of America was a free and independent country
gave the US new boundaries
Republican Government
government in which officials are representatives elected by the people.
democratic, conservative
Disagreeing on who should have the right to vote ... Patriots who were more ____________ wanted equal political rights for almost all free men, even those who had little or no property _______________ patriots restricted voting rights to those who had enjoyed those rights in colonial times, which are free men who owned property
Articles of Confederation
1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 weaknesses include ...
no executive- no judicial- no power to tax- no power to regulate trade
Shay's Rebellion
During an economic depression, which reduced the prices paid to farmers for their produce, they were unable to pay their debts, and farmers faced losing their crops, livestock, and homes
armed farmers led by Daniel Shay- they shut down courts, blocking foreclosures The rebellion highlighted the weaknesses of the national government set up by the Articles of Confederation and couldn't defend American interests
Northwest
The articles of Confederation gave Congress authority over the ___________ territory, which lay north oft heOhio River and stretched west form Pennsylvania to the Mississippi River
Land Ordinance
created a system for surveying and selling the land to settlers
A major success of the Articles of Confederation
Northwest Ordinance
Described how the Northwest Territory was to be governed and how they could become full-fledged states
also banned slavery in the territory and provided for public education
Virgina Plan
A plan that called for 3 branches of government, a judicial, executive, and legislature and the legislature based on population
advocated a national union that was both strong and republican
in both houses, the states with larger populations would have more members
National Congress would have the power to veto any state law- featured a President to command the armed forces and to manage foreign relations- he would appoint all executive and judicial officers, but only by approval by the Senate
By James Madison
New Jersey Plan
The proposal at the Constitutional Convention called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population
would give Congress the power to regulate commerce and to tax while keeping the basic structure of the Confederation
would stay a loose confederation of states, rather than become a unified nation
The Great Compromise
Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature (Senate) and representation based on population in the other house
Senate (each state is allowed 2 senators)
simply forbade the states from enacting the sorts of alws that offended many during the 1780s.
federalism
A system in which power is divided between the national/federal and state governments
slave
3/5 clause
Slaves counted as 3/5 person for representation and taxation purposes
boosted the number of southern seats in Congress
gave no rights to enslaved African Americans
The Federalist Papers
A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.
explained why they believed the Constitution was vital to the survival of the new nation
also explained how the new system of government would work
Checks and Balances
A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
Virginia Declaration of Rights
Served as a model for the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States of America
By James Madison
he limited the amendments to guarantees of individual rights
religion
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of _________, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"
First Amendment
separation of church and state
limited government
A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution.
principles
the Constitution established a representative government based on this basic ________:
popular sovereignty- separation of powers- limited government- federalism- checks and balances- representative government (indirect democracy)
E pluribus unum
out of many, one (the motto of the US).
Alexander Hamilton
1789-1795; First Secretary of the Treasury.
He advocated creation of a national bank, assumption of state debts by the federal government, and a tariff system to pay off the national debt.
leader of the Federalist Party, but was opposed by leaders like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, who wanted a limited government and an agrarian society
Democratic Republican Party
Led by Thomas Jefferson
believed people should have political power- favored strong STATE governments- emphasized agriculture- strict interpretation of the Constitution- pro-French- opposed National Bank- opposed Hamilton's agenda
Britain, France
The federalists wanted trade ties with _, while the Democratic Republicans wanted trade ties with _, Britain's enemy
George Washington wanted ties with both
British
The ________ navy tested American neutrality by seizing US merchant ships trading with French colonies.
so Washington sent John Jay to negotiate with Britain
Jay Treaty of 1794
US & Great Britain*Terms:*Stopped the search and seizure of American ships by the British, made America pay pre-revolutionary debts, and opened British ports.
Marbury v. Madison
This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review
John Marshall
American jurist and politician who served as the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1801-1835) and helped establish the practice of judicial review in the Marbury v. Madison case
judicial review
allows the judicial branch to decide the constitutionality of congressional actions
Lousiana Purchase
The purchase of French land between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains doubled the size of the US
cost only $15 mil
Andrew Jackson
The seventh President of the United States (1829-1837), who as a general in the War of 1812 defeated the British at New Orleans (1815).
As president he opposed the Bank of America, objected to the right of individual states to nullify disagreeable federal laws, and increased the presidential powers.
Jasksonian Democracy
The idea of widening political power to more of the people
more white men voted- blacks, even those with property, native Americans, and women could not vote
protective tariffs
taxes that would make imported goods cost more than those made locally
The nullification crisis
A sectional crisis during the presidency of Andrew Jackson created by the Ordinance of Nullification, an attempt by the state of South Carolina to nullify a federal law - the tariff of 1828 - passed by the United States Congress.
Jackson threatened to use troops to enforce federal law in South Carolina- South Carolina backed off after Congress passed a compromise tariff
Indian Removal Act
(1830) a congressional act that authorized the removal of Native Americans who lived east of the Mississippi River
Trail of Tears
the forced removal of Cherokees and their transportation to Oklahoma
many died of diseases, exposure, and hunger
Business leaders argued that the bank fostered economic growth and confidence, but Jacksonian democrats felt that it favored a small number of rich investors
Whig Party
An American political party formed in the 1830s to oppose President Andrew Jackson and the Democrats
stood for protective tariffs, national banking, and federal aid for internal improvements
Panic of 1837
When Jackson was president, many state banks received government money that had been withdrawn from the Bank of the U.S. These banks issued paper money and financed wild speculation, especially in federal lands.
Jackson's decision to stop accepting paper money for the purchase of federal land lead to panic. Many state banks collapsed as a result.
A panic ensued (1837). Bank of the U.S. failed, cotton prices fell, businesses went bankrupt, and there was widespread unemployment and distress.
Alexis de Tocqueville
French political writer noted for his analysis of American institutions (1805-1859)
praised US Consitution
Industrial Revolution
A series of improvements in industrial technology that transformed the process of manufacturing goods.
cotton
Because of demand for ________ on textile mills, prices increased
this encouraged Southern planters to expand their fields and increase the number of enslaved African Americans they owned
increased
As southern and northern economies diverged, political differences on slaver _________ as well
North objected to slavery- slavery was important to the economy in the south, so southerners grew stronger in their defense of slaver
slavery
Resistance to _______ became violent
so southerners passed harsher laws and controls to slavery- this inspired some people in the North to work against slavery
Underground Railroad
a system of secret routes used by escaping slaves to reach freedom in the North or in Canada
abolitionists
people who believed that slavery should be against the law
Frederick Douglas
(1817-1895) American abolitionist and writer, he escaped slavery and became a leading African American spokesman and writer.
He published his biography, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and founded the abolitionist newspaper, the North Star.
most
____ Americans didn't support the abolition of slavery
White workers in the North feared that fee African Americans would take their jobs
wealthy industrialists worried that the end of slavery would cut off the supply of southern cotton and reduce the demand for ship and shipyards
Second Great Awakening
a revival of religious feeling and belief from the 1800s to the 1840s that led to an increase in participation in evangelical Protestant movements
women
_______ were welcomed by the reform movements
they worked in the temperance movement, the abolition movement, and other reform movements
home
Industrialism gave women the opportunity to work in jobs instead of staying _____
Seneca Falls Convention
(1848) the first national women's rights convention at which the Declaration of Sentiments was written
Declaration of Sentiments
Revision of the Declaration of Independence to include women and men (equal).
It was the grand basis of attaining civil, social, political, and religious rights for women.
suffrage
Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony were some important women leaders in the women _______ movement
Texas Revolution
War between Texas settlers (Anglo-Texans) and Mexico from 1835-1836 resulting in the formation of the Republic of Texas
later would be annexed in to the US
Sam Houston
Commander of the Texas army at the battle of San Jacinto against Mexico
later elected president of the Republic of Texas
James K. Polk
president in March 1845.
favored the annexation of Texas and endorsed a Texan border claim that was still disputed by Mexico and declared war on Mexico
wanted to settle the Oregon boundary dispute with Britain and compromised with Britain, agreeing on the split the Oregon Territory.
wanted to acquire California.
wanted to incorporate Texas into a union.
one
The war with Mexico was ____-sided, with the US winning every major battle
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Treaty that ended the Mexican War, granting the U.S. control of Texas, New Mexico, and California in exchange for $15 million
secured the Rio Grande as the southern border of Texas
California
_______ would become a free state, disrupting the balance between the number of free states and slave states
which would contribute to the conflict between the North and South
Wilmot Proviso
bill that called for a ban on slavery in any territory that the US gained from Mexico as a result of the war
southern leaders denounced the proposal
passed the House of Rep., but defeated in the Senate
helped spur the rise of antislavery political parties
increased tension between the North and South over slavery
Free-soil Party
Formed in 1847 - 1848, dedicated to opposing slavery in newly acquired territories
such as Oregon and ceded Mexican territory.
Compromise of 1850
(1) California admitted as free state(2) territorial status and popular sovereignty of Utah and New Mexico(3) resolution of Texas-New Mexico boundaries(4) federal assumption of Texas debt(5) slave trade abolished in DC(6) new fugitive slave law; advocated by Henry Clay and Stephen A. Douglas
Fugitive Slave Act
law that allowed officials...
to arrest any person accused of being a runaway slave- deny fugitives the right to a jury trial- required all citizens to help capture runaway slaves
outraged many northerners
Northern
_________ states fought back the Fugitive Slave act by passing personal liberty laws and created groups for resistance
Harriet Beecher Stowe
(1811-1896) American author, she was an abolitionist and author of the famous antislavery novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, a powerful condemnation of slavery
Kansas-Nebraska Act
1854 - Created Nebraska and Kansas as states
gave the people in those territories the right to chose to be a free or slave state through popular sovereignty.
Bleeding Kansas
Started with proslavery forces looting homes, burning down hotels, and destroying the presses. Then John Brown and others conducted a midnight raid on the proslavery settlement and kill 5 of them, creating more violence
The dispute further strained the relations between the North and South, making civil war imminent.
John Brown
an abolitionist who thought using violence was the best way to defeat slavery
hoped to inspire and arm local slaves for an uprising that would spread into a general slave rebellion, eventually ending slavery, but no slaves joined his revolt
part of Bleeding Kansas
New Republican Party
prospered because of Northern outrage over "Bleeding Sumner" and "Bleeding Kansas"
included abolitionists, antislavery business leaders, and more
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
1858 Senate Debate, Lincoln forced Douglas to debate issue of slavery, but Douglas won the Senate race, but brought Lincoln national attention
Douglas supported popular sovereignty- Lincoln asserted that slavery should not spread to territories, Lincoln emerged as strong Republican candidate
southern, northern
the _______ Democrats called for a platform supporting federal protection of slavery in territories (John C. Breckinridge) the _________ Democrats supported the doctrine of popular sovereignty (Stephen A. Douglas)
the north won
John C. Breckinridge
The South's pro-slavery Democratic candidate in the election of 1860. Completed the split of the Democratic Party by being nominated. (North)
Lincoln
_______ was chosen as the candidate to carry the Republican Party
he won the election and didn't get a single southern electoral vote
southerners were outraged at Lincoln's election
Confederate States of America
A republic formed in February of 1861 and composed of the eleven Southern states that seceded from the United States
guaranteed the protection of slavery and independence of individual states